Legal Assistant 3 – In-Training (LA3/DLS)
71096050
As part of the intake team, this position receives incoming appeals and cases and serves as a subject matter expert for the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB), School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB), and the Medicaid caseloads in support of paralegals, presiding officers, and reviewing officers. Additionally, this position will serve as the unit’s public records coordinator. If you are a legal administrative professional who thrives in a high volume environment interacting regularly with attorneys, judges, and the public, this may be the opportunity for you!
All HCA employees will apply an equity lens to their work, which may include but is not limited to all analyses of core business and processes.
About the division:
The Division of Legal Services (DLS) provides support to the agency to mitigate risks, comply with changing laws, and assist the agency in accomplishing its goals. The Legal Assistant 3 supports DLS within the Health Care Authority (HCA) by providing complex legal support functions to HCA’s adjudicative proceeding processes for the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB), School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB), and Medicaid programs. This position reports to the Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) Legal Administrative Manager.
About the position:
The Legal Assistant 3 comes in contact with many forms of confidential information, including, but not limited to, personnel information, investigations, lawsuits, public disclosure requests and management strategies under discussion. This position will compose and review legal notices to ensure timely processing and accurate data entry into tracking systems, prepare hearing files, perform records management, provide customer service to callers, and administrative support to the staff within OLA, including the legal services advisors and paralegals. Additionally, this position will serve as the primary public records coordinator.
This position is eligible to telework but is required to report on-site 2-3 days per week to meet business need.The default assigned work location of all Health Care Authority (HCA) positions – both on-site and telework eligible positions – is within the State of Washington. This position reports to Olympia, WA. Frequency of onsite work will vary based on business and operational needs. All agency employees are required to report on-site in Olympia on their first and last days of employment to pick up and return state-issued equipment, regardless of telework status or location.
Some of what you will do:
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Prepares hearings files and pleadings, primarily supporting the MDTE, PEBB, SEBB, and MAGI caseloads.
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Applies specialized knowledge of the applicable appeals rules and court filing procedures in processing appeals and formal hearings.
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Works with the supervising legal service advisor to assign hearings to legal services advisors.
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Serves as primary public records coordinator.
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Examines and researches new appeals to determine completeness and subject matter.
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Sets up, maintains, and closes electronic case files, including new appeals, appeals on review or reconsideration, formal hearings, and judicial review files.
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Enters and maintains data in the appeals database, paying close attention to details and compliance with WAC timeliness requirements.
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Monitors, tracks, and updates status of legal service advisor’s cases.
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Acts as point of contact with the Office of Administrative Hearings on behalf of OLA in scheduling and assigning administrative hearings related to MDTE Programs.
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Communicates with Board of Appeals, HCA Staff, client agencies, appellants, the public, and other interested parties regarding cases, trials, and hearings.
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Manages HCA Hearings email inbox which receives and processes notices from OAH, program files from MCOs, documents from appellants, and faxes.
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Provides complex clerical support of cases, including proofreading and editing legal documents for content and grammar, composing correspondence for signature, and verifying legal citations and references for accuracy and consistency.
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Prepares letters, case checklists, pleadings, notices, and other case documents, with high attention to detail and accuracy and consistent with office protocols and/or WACs.
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Timely and accurately schedules hearings and maintains the Master Hearings Calendar in Microsoft Outlook based on the case assignment data.
Required qualifications:
Legal Assistant 3 ($50,412 – $67,704 annually)
Candidates will qualify for the Legal Assistant 3 level if they meet one of the following criteria options:
Option 1:
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High School diploma or equivalent and
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Four (4) years of experience in a legal environment in support of an attorney, administrative law judge(s), industrial insurance appeals judge(s), review judge(s) or equivalent.
Option 2:
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One (1) year as a Legal Assistant 2 in state government performing the experience listed above.
Option 3:
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Associate degree and
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Three (3) years of legal office experience.
Option 4:
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Two-year degree in paralegal studies or related field of study and
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Two (2) years of legal office experience.
Option 5:
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Bachelor’s degree and
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One (1) year of legal office experience.
Legal Assistant 2 ($48,048 – $64,512 annually)
Candidates will qualify for the Legal Assistant 2 level if they meet one of the following criteria options:
Option 1:
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High School diploma or equivalent and
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Two (2) years of experience in a legal environment in support of an attorney, administrative law judge(s), industrial insurance appeals judge(s), review judge(s) or equivalent.
Option 2:
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One (1) year as a Legal Assistant 1 in state government performing the experience listed above.
Option 3:
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Associate degree and
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Two (2) years of legal office experience.
Option 4:
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Two-year degree in paralegal studies or related field of study and
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One (1) year of legal office experience.
Option 5:
Required competencies: (for both LA3 and LA2)
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The ability to take action to learn and grow.
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The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.
Preferred qualifications: (for both LA3 and LA2)
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Experience with:
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Working directly with attorneys and/or administrative law judges;
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Administrative law;
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Case management systems;
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Public records;
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Records management;
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Preparing/drafting legal documents, e.g. letters, pleadings, dismissals, orders, and checklists.
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Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (including Word, Visio, Access, PowerPoint, and Excel).
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Knowledge of:
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legal terminology;
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local, state, and federal courts, boards and commissions rules and their application;
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court procedures;
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legal forms and documents and their processing;
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resources for checking legal citations;
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current legal office practices, methods, and procedures;
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law office communication;
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correct punctuation, spelling, grammar, and vocabulary skills in compliance with standard law office practice, database/index systems, and discovery procedures.
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Ability to:
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use case management systems;
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proofread for accuracy and content;
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understand and follow written and oral instructions;
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understand and apply procedures, policies, and guidelines;
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prepare legal pleadings;
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analyze situations accurately and take effective action;
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learn and adapt to changing business needs;
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use good judgement in evaluating situations and making decisions;
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demonstrate reliability;
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establish and maintain professional and respectful work relationships with co-workers, clients, and the general public;
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maintain confidentiality;
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exhibit good oral and written communication and demonstrate professionalism at all times.
How to apply:
Only candidates who reflect the minimum qualifications on their NEOGOV profile will be considered. Failure to follow the application instructions below may lead to disqualification. To apply for this position, you will need to complete your profile which includes three professional references and attach in separate files:
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A cover letter that specifically addresses how you meet the qualifications for this position
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Current resume
To take advantage of veteran preference, please do the following:
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Attach a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 long-form copy), NGB 22, or USDVA signed verification of service letter.
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Please black out any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers. Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.
About HCA:
Functioning as both the state's largest health care purchaser and its behavioral health authority, the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) is a leader in ensuring Washington residents have the opportunity to be as healthy as possible.
There are three pillars of our work: Apple Health (Medicaid); the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) and School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) programs; and behavioral health and recovery. Under these pillars, HCA purchases health care, including behavioral health treatment for more than 2.7 million Washington residents and provides behavioral health prevention, crisis, and recovery supports to all Washington residents.
What we have to offer:
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Meaningful work with friendly co-workers who care about those we serve Voices of HCA
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A clear agency mission that drives our work and is person-centered HCA's Mission, Vision & Values
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A healthy work/life balance, including alternative/flexible schedules and mobile work options.
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A great total compensation and benefit package WA State Government Benefits
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A safe, pleasant workplace in a convenient location with restaurants, and shopping nearby.
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And free parking!
Notes:
Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment.
HCA is an equal opportunity employer. We value the importance of creating an environment in which all employees can feel respected, included, and empowered to bring unique ideas to the agency. HCA has five employee resource groups (ERGs). ERGs are voluntary, employee-led groups whose aim is to foster a diverse, inclusive workplace aligned with HCA’s mission. Our diversity and inclusion efforts include embracing different cultures, backgrounds and viewpoints while fostering growth and advancement in the workplace. Studies have shown women, racial and ethnic minorities, and persons of disability are less likely to apply for jobs unless they feel they meet every qualification as described in a job description. Persons over 40 years of age, disabled and Vietnam era veterans, as well as people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are also encouraged to apply. If you have any questions about the required qualifications or how your experience relates to them, please contact us at [email protected]. Persons with disabilities needing assistance in the application process, or those needing this job announcement in an alternative format may contact Jake Nelko at 360-725-0945 or [email protected].
The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) is an E-Verify employer. All applicants with a legal right to work in the United States are encouraged to apply.
E-Verify® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
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